St. Thomas Aquinas falls in state tourney

The St. Thomas Aquinas beach volleyball team fell 3-1 to Miami Westminster Christian in the first round of the state tournament on Friday at the Florida State University beach volleyball courts in Tallahassee.

St. Thomas Aquinas’ No. 1 team of Halley Tang and Alyssa Mcbean, No. 2 of Sophia Alvarado and Zoe Taylor and No. 3 team of Brooke Carrasqual and Kristi Tolacka each lost their matches 2-0. The lone win for the Raiders came from their No. 4 team of Amanda Knapik and Courtney Jensen, earning a 2-0 victory.

Miami Westminster Christian entered the tournament as the top-ranked team after winning the state title last season before the sport was elevated from the club level.

Losing to the Warriors for the second time this season, St. Thomas Aquinas also fell to Westminster Christian 4-1 in April.

The Raiders took down Cardinal Gibbons 3-2 in the play-in round on May 2 to reach the first round of the state tournament. St. Thomas finished the season with a 14-3 record.

“While we did not get the result that we were expecting, it was a learning opportunity for all involved,” St. Thomas Aquinas assistant coach Tricia Couch said. “Our team is better for having gone through this experience, and we are already looking forward to a return trip next season.”

Westminster Christian would fall in the following round to Vero Beach, who finished as the runner-up to the state champion,

New Smyrna Beach.

King’s Academy downed in first round by Vero Beach

After chalking up 17 consecutive victories, King’s Academy’s state championship aspirations came to a close against Vero Beach, losing 3-0 in the first round of the state tournament on Friday at the Florida State University beach volleyball courts in Tallahassee.

The Lions’ No. 1 team of Kate Taylor and Ava Fountain, No. 2 team of Julia Greenlund and Valeria Diaz and No. 3 team of Diana Harris and Hailey Adkins were each swept in their matches 2-0.

King’s Academy advanced to the first round after beating Park Vista in the play-in round on May 2. The Lions concluded the season with a 17-2 record.

Vero Beach picked up two more victories against Miami Westminster Christian and Berkeley Prep before losing in the state finals to New Smyrna Beach 3-2.